Third accused at large, other two confess to crime

Three days after a 19-year-old woman was allegedly abducted and gang-raped by three men in Ghaziabad, the third accused is still at large.

The victim had boarded a 'share' auto, which was later found to be stolen, from NH-24 near Shipra Mall in Indirapuram on Monday night to go to Delhi.

Three people overpowered her and took her to a secluded spot near Galand village, where they allegedly gang-raped her. They also robbed her of cash and her mobile phone.

Senior police officials said the victim's medical exam did not indicate any injury on her private parts.

Two of the accused, Ankit and Dabban, have been arrested while the third, Vikram, is on the run. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Nitin Tiwari said: "We have lodged the case according to the victim's complaint. We will take action against the police personnel who failed to spot the auto."

A case was registered under Sections 376 (rape), 364 (abduction), 392 (robbery) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of IPC against the three men. The two arrested persons have confessed to the crime and narrated the sequence of events to the police.

According to the anti-rape ordinance that came into force on February 3, even if medical examination shows that rape has not been committed, the accused can be booked for assaulting the victim under the same section 376 of IPC. The ordinance will remain till it is replaced by a Central Act.

The police are also contemplating invoking the Gangster Act against the three accused.